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UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev Full Card Betting Guide

Now, that the bad blood pay-per-view is behind us, we turn our attention to UFC Vegas 50, an under-the-radar but still loaded card. Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev meet in a light heavyweight main event, with Marlon Moraes and Song Yadong squaring off in a bantamweight co-main on Saturday, March 12, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The 13-fight card is slated to begin at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Make sure to check out Question Mark Kicks two hours before the prelims begin for Matt and Craig’s final thoughts on the fight card.

Fight Previews

Light Heavyweight

Tafon Nchukwi (+157)

Record: 6-1 (2-1 UFC)

Wins: 4 KO | Losses: 1 DEC

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+110); Wins ITD (+332), by decision (+374), by TKO (+359), by submission (+2267)

Azamat Murzakanov (-188)

Record: 10-0 (UFC debut)

Wins: 7 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: n/a

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-143); Wins ITD (+119), by decision (+336), by TKO (+154), by submission (+580)

Best Value: Over 2.5 rounds (+110)
The first of three undefeated fighters making their debuts on this card, Murzakanov might be the most intriguing of the bunch but the odds are too steep for me.

Bantamweight

Kris Moutinho (-151)

Record: 9-5 (0-1 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 2 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-139); Wins ITD (+191), by decision (+239), by TKO (+293), by submission (+560)

Guido Cannetti (+126)

Record: 8-6 (2-5 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 4 SUB

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+109); Wins ITD (+348), by decision (+277), by TKO (+575), by submission (+707)

Best Value: Moutinho ITD (+191)
Cannetti is 2-5 in the UFC. That should be all the reason you need to like Moutinho in this one.

Middleweight

Dalcha Lungiambula (-128)

Record: 11-3 (2-2 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-115); Wins ITD (+153), by decision (+394), by TKO (+167), by submission (+1356)

Cody Brundage (+106)

Record: 6-2 (0-1 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 2 SUB | Losses: 1 KO

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-112); Wins ITD (+339), by decision (+238), by TKO (+613), by submission (+634)

Best Value: Over 2.5 rounds (-115)
Another fight I just toss my hands up in the air.

Women’s Flyweight

Sabina Mazo (+262)

Record: 9-3 (3-3 UFC)

Wins: 2 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-289); Wins ITD (+750), by decision (+398), by TKO (+1138), by submission (+1950)

Miranda Maverick (-336)

Record: 9-4 (2-2 UFC)

Wins: 1 KO, 5 SUB | Losses: 4 DEC

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+215); Wins ITD (+256), by decision (-126), by TKO (+569), by submission (+469)

Best Value: Maverick ITD (+256)
Maverick should dominate in this matchup, but the odds outright are too steep to put on my card. This is slightly more appealing.

Featherweight

Damon Jackson (-115)

Record: 19-4-1 (2-2-1 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 14 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-166); Wins ITD (+294), by decision (+207), by TKO (+1038), by submission (+395)

Kamuela Kirk (-105)

Record: 11-4 (1-0 UFC)

Wins: 4 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 1 KO

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+129); Wins ITD (+268), by decision (+248), by TKO (+374), by submission (+831)

Best Value: Under 2.5 rounds (+129)
This is going to be a real fun fight, but it is mighty tough to find value here. This is probably the best of the bunch, and I don’t love it at all.

Bantamweight

Trevin Jones (+126)

Record: 13-7 (1-1 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 2 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+101); Wins ITD (+269), by decision (+355), by TKO (+456), by submission (+650)

Javid Basharat (-151)

Record: 11-0 (UFC debut)

Wins: 5 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: n/a

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-130); Wins ITD (+159), by decision (+281), by TKO (+367), by submission (+357)

Best Value: Trevin Jones (+126)
Hands down, the best value on the card. Jones’ exciting style is not the warmest of welcomes for your UFC debut.

Women’s Flyweight

Gillian Robertson (-126)

Record: 10-6 (7-4 UFC)

Wins: 1 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-140); Wins ITD (+160), by decision (+346), by TKO (+794), by submission (+195)

JJ Aldrich (+104)

Record: 10-4 (6-3 UFC)

Wins: 2 KO | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+109); Wins ITD (+422), by decision (+203), by TKO (+619), by submission (+1126)

Best Value: JJ Aldrich (+104)
Aldrich’s reach advantage paired with her defensive wrestling should keep this fight standing, where Aldrich has the advantage.

Welterweight

Matthew Semelsberger (-200)

Record: 9-3 (3-1 UFC)

Wins: 6 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Over 1.5 rounds (-148); Wins ITD (+104), by decision (+327), by TKO (+118), by submission (+861)

AJ Fletcher (+166)

Record: 9-0 (UFC debut)

Wins: 4 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: n/a

Props: Under 1.5 rounds (+116); Wins ITD (+293), by decision (+604), by TKO (+550), by submission (+585)

Best Value: Under 1.5 rounds (+116)
Another fight I’m incredibly wary of betting on, but this option makes me cringe least.

Middleweight

Alex Pereira (-190)

Record: 4-1 (1-0 UFC)

Wins: 4 KO | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Over 1.5 rounds (+134); Wins ITD (-152), by decision (+818), by TKO (-135), by submission (+1711)

Bruno Silva (+158)

Record: 22-6 (3-0 UFC)

Wins: 19 KO | Losses: 5 SUB

Props: Under 1.5 rounds (-172); Wins ITD (+212), by decision (+836), by TKO (+221), by submission (+1622)

Best Value: Silva submission (+1622)
I’m not touching this with a 10-foot pole, so if you do, you might as well take a wild stab in the dark.

Lightweight

Drew Dober (-164)

Record: 23-11 (9-7 UFC)

Wins: 7 KO, 9 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 4 SUB

Props: Over 1.5 rounds (-133); Wins ITD (+139), by decision (+279), by TKO (+153), by submission (+1056)

Terrance McKinney (+138)

Record: 12-3 (2-0 UFC)

Wins: 5 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Under 1.5 rounds (+103); Wins ITD (+193), by decision (+810), by TKO (+349), by submission (+470)

Best Value: McKinney submission (+470)
The short-notice nature of this fight does scare me a little off T.Wrecks, but Dober’s vulnerable to getting submitted and McKinney is a finisher.

Light Heavyweight

Khalil Rountree Jr. (+108)

Record: 9-5 (5-5 UFC)

Wins: 6 KO | Losses: 2 KO, 1 SUB

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (+119); Wins ITD (+194), by decision (+450), by TKO (+203), by submission (+1975)

Karl Roberson (-131)

Record: 9-4 (4-4 UFC)

Wins: 2 KO, 4 SUB | Losses: 4 SUB

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (-151); Wins ITD (+171), by decision (+307), by TKO (+224), by submission (+828)

Best Value: Over 2.5 rounds (+119)
This one is staying far away from my card, but there’s probably some value on the over for two guys not necessarily known for high volume.

Featherweight

Sodiq Yussuf (-255)

Record: 11-2 (4-1 UFC)

Wins: 6 KO | Losses: 1 KO

Props: Over 2.5 rounds (-170); Wins ITD (+182), by decision (+141), by TKO (+191), by submission (+1858)

Alex Caceres (+206)

Record: 19-12 (14-10 UFC)

Wins: 3 KO, 7 SUB | Losses: 1 KO, 7 SUB

Props: Under 2.5 rounds (+133); Wins ITD (+492), by decision (+404), by TKO (+863), by submission (+863)

Best Value: Sodiq Yussuf (-255)
Don’t be too afraid of the odds on this one. Caceres is on a tidy little win streak, but Yussuf is in a different league.

Bantamweight

Marlon Moraes (+215)

Record: 23-9-1 (5-5 UFC)

Wins: 10 KO, 6 SUB | Losses: 6 KO, 2 SUB

Props: Over 1.5 rounds (-139); Wins ITD (+394), by decision (+514), by TKO (+594), by submission (+989)

Song Yadong (-266)

Record: 18-6-1 (7-1-1 UFC)

Wins: 7 KO, 3 SUB | Losses: 1 KO

Props: Under 1.5 rounds (+109); Wins ITD (-118), by decision (+338), by TKO (-109), by submission (+1111)

Best Value: Song TKO (-109)
Marlon Moraes’ chin might as well be nonexistent at this point. Song has more than enough power to find a finish.

Light Heavyweight

Thiago Santos (+420)

Record: 22-9 (14-8 UFC)

Wins: 15 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 3 KO, 3 SUB

Props: Over 3.5 rounds (-120); Wins ITD (+618), by decision (+1088), by TKO (+686), by submission (+2950)

Magomed Ankalaev (-591)

Record: 16-1 (7-1 UFC)

Wins: 8 KO, 1 SUB | Losses: 1 SUB

Props: Under 3.5 rounds (-108); Wins ITD (+102), by TKO (+113), by submission (+844)

Best Value: Thiago Santos (+420)
I’m not so certain Ankalaev is going to steamroll this fight. Thiago Santos may not be what he once was, but he’s still a game fighter and these odds are irresistible. The over 3.5 (-120) is enticing too.

Results

UFC 272

Josh: 3-4 (1-0 parlay), +5.69u

Matt: 10-3, +4.78u

Craig: 9-4, +1.28u

2022 Results

Josh: 16-32 (2-5 parlay), -17.42u

Matt: 56-29, +10.41u

Craig: 52-33, +3.49u

Editor’s Note: Matt and Craig make picks for every fight, regardless of betting lines. This exercise assumes a 1u bet on each fight.

My Card

Best Bets (2u each)

Trevin Jones (+126)

Straight bets (1u each)

Sodiq Yussuf (-255)

Underdogs (1u each)

JJ Aldrich (+104)

Thiago Santos (+420)

Props (1u each)

McKinney sub (+470)

Parlay (+228)

Aldrich-Robertson O2.5 (-140), Sodiq Yussuf (-255), Song Yadong (-266)

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